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He gave her a slow smile. ‘Good. Back to the comm tab. It also controls the apartment’s wall skins, ambient temperature, lighting and air conditioning.’
‘Wall skins?’
He gave her a chin jerk. ‘You can switch the view on your walls to whatever view you want. I already uploaded a few you may recognise.’
He swiped the comm tab’s screen, and suddenly the walls flickered into a stunning vista of the lake and forests below her apartment on Dunia. She gave a little pull of breath.
This man.
‘Thank you,’ she breathed, walking around and touching the walls reverently.
‘You’re welcome.’
He watched her wander the space.
‘I never expected this level of luxe,’ she reluctantly countered. ‘I hope you’re taking something off my contract pay to cover this place.’
He shrugged. ‘Nada. The apartment was empty. It’s pegged for dignitaries coming to Eden II, and since we just completed construction, the administrative levers haven’t yet logged it in the system. So it’s yours, rent-free for the next few months at least.’
She met his gaze. ‘Thank you. Unexpected but truly appreciated.’
‘Karibu. Pleasure.’
It certainly was, she thought, as a delicious shiver ran down her spine at their shared gaze.
She broke it, taking in a deep breath. ‘How about work? Where’s this legendary shop of yours, Kage?’
He gestured outside, and she eagerly stepped onto the apartment’s spacious patio. She sighed at the beauty of the terrace, designed as a seamless extension of the living space behind her. On the two walls flanking the courtyard were a series of rich, green vertical planter boxes spilling over with green leafy tropical plants creating the impression of a living façade that serenely wrapped the building in a tranquil and private nature.
Along the third wall was a stunning infinity lap pool that fell over the side of the building. Harlow gasped at the sight. ‘Zane really wasn’t kidding,’ she said.
Kage shook his head. ‘Only the best for you, Miss Meridien.’
Standing behind her, he pointed to the skies above, bending to line up his head with hers so she could follow the arc of his arm. Just above the metro dome, she saw a cluster of orbital constructs.
‘That’s Skylab.’
She twisted her head to look up at him. ‘And how do we get there?’
He straightened his powerful form. ‘At the top of this building is an orbital terminal. Each morning, you hit the lift and head up to the roof, where a shuttle will be waiting to take you to our shop front door.’
‘Do you also take this shuttle?’
‘When I need to. I have an office and pad up there.’
‘Is the Skylab where you live all the time?’
‘Questions questions, Harlow. I thought we were keeping this professional?’
‘I didn’t mean -.’
He chuckled at her horrified expression.
‘All good,kara. My bed at Skylab is just for overnight crashes - let’s me have a kip if I’m working late. But it’s basic. I’ve two cribs I call home. One is an apartment in the 498 building across from this one -.’
‘Above the bar?’
‘Naam. The floors above are where the rest of the Riders and I, apart from Zane, have our city pads. We’re rarely there, though. Kainan and Riv tend to crash most nights on our ships—something Kainan is doing less now that he’s with Selene. And I’ve focused on Skylab more in recent years. Thus my need for an apartment close to the shuttle pad. But my real home is a few thousand klicks from the metro. On the dark, wild and untamed side of Eden II. I’ll take you there one day.’
